Former Eagle rips players for lack of leadership

Nov. 26, 2012
|

Disgruntled Philadelphia Eagles' fans, wearing paper bags over their heads to show their displeasure with the team and head coach Andy Reid, react for the camera before Monday's game against the Carolina Panthers in Philadelphia. / Mel Evans, AP

by Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Sports

by Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Sports

PHILADELPHIA -- Former Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Troy Vincent believes coach Andy Reid deserves to finish out this season, adding that he is "offended'' by the lack of leadership he has witnessed from players during a lost season.

Vincent, speaking before Monday night's game between the Carolina Panthers and the Eagles, told USA TODAY Sports that Reid should not be fired now.

"You made one change (firing defensive coordinator Juan Castillo)," Vincent said. "What's an interim coach going to do at this point?"

Vincent, who was inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame on Monday night, along with long-time ticket manager Leo Carlin, played for the Eagles from 1996-2003. He had scathing words for the players while absolving the coaches.

"I'm offended,'' said the Trenton, N.J. native and the league's VP of Player Engagement. "I'm a former player, but I'm passionate about the Green. I want to see the franchise do well.

"I see it from afar. I see a lack of leadership when you see things happening on the sideline. It's a want, a will, a desire. You have to hold each other accountable in the locker room.''

Vincent criticized the lack of chemistry.

"I was asked a question about someone's hustle,'' Vincent said. "Why are we talking about a professional not hustling? We need all 11 to the ball. Those are the things that leadership and personal accountability bring. "Some of those things aren't Andy's responsibility. They're about the 53 guys in that locker room.

"Don't cheat the sport. Develop the young guys. I don't know who that one individual (leader) is. Just from a distance, what I see when the camera goes to the sideline -- whether it's offensively, defensively, special teams -- it's just what I see ... all those (things) eventually turn into losses.

He added: ''It's not a good time. People are booing, wearing bags over their heads. They (fans) knocked my mailbox down in Bucks County.''

If this is Reid's final season, Vincent believes the coach will leave behind a proud legacy.

"He's the winningest coach in the history of the franchise," Vincent said. "If they decide to move on, he gave us some exciting years.

"He never bought a Lombardi Trophy home. But he changed the reputation of what the Eagles were, following Dick Vermeil and Buddy Ryan. He built a reputation that we could compete, whether it was home or away, against anybody under any conditions.''

Owner Jeffrey Lurie, who introduced the honorees, left without answering questions about his head coach's status.